The portion called Toledot (Genesis 25:19ff) begins, “This is the story of Isaac, son of Abraham.” For what is a great story, the portion begins in a seemingly unremarkable way, but its best part wasn’t lost on Torah commentators. They asked, why is it necessary to name Abraham in a story about Isaac? How can Isaac and his story be great if it can’t stand on its own merit? Is Isaac destined to be known only as his father’s son?

The answer begins in what the rabbis taught in Genesis Rabbah 43, citing Proverbs 17:6, “Grandchildren are the crown of their elders, and the glory of children is their parents.” That is, future grandchildren will be born who will bring honor to their grandparents. In this case, Abraham’s future grandson, Jacob, is destined to be born for honor. The linkage between Isaac and his father, Abraham, that begins in the first verse of this Torah portion, finds its brilliance in the next generation with Jacob, father of the 12 tribes of Israel.

The first verse might be overlooked in favor of the story of the birth of Jacob and Esau, but it’s this first verse that not only foreshadows the necessary outcome of Jacob obtaining the birthright, it’s also critical to the strength that we rely on in generational inheritance. Less about money and more about reputation and heritage, the linkage of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob established the patriarchal trio that is the foundation of our Jewish story and lineage.

These generations were forged by fate and faith, but not without a literal struggle, which is a principal part of the portion’s famous story. Rebecca struggles with twins in her womb, or “two nations,” as she is told (Genesis 25:23). And though struggle is part of every person’s life’s journey, we learn from the first verse of this portion that the meaning of our life’s journey can be found beyond our time, in the past and the future.

Like our patriarchs in this portion, our life’s purpose is linked to and intertwined with at least three generations. Before genealogy websites, it was uncommon to know or sometimes name our great-grandparents and certainly not our great-great-grandparents. What has always been true is that our life is a blessing to those who preceded us, and so it should be to those who will succeed us. Isaac and Abraham are honored when their names are mentioned together. And later, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will be recalled and honored, together, with Sarah, Rebecca, Leah, and Rachel, too.

As Thanksgiving nears, the great American holiday, our tables will be full with food and family. At this time of gathering and gratitude, it’s imperative that we engage in conversation that honors the generations, past, present, and future. We were born to thrive not only for our own sake in our own generation, but also to bring honor to our grandparents and to know joy from our parents.

Our unselfish obligation is to reflect honor among and between the generations so that our faith, heritage, culture, language, and people will endure. The intertwining of the generations sustains us. Ecclesiastes wrote, “A cord of three strands is not easily broken,” and so it might be said of the generations.

From my family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving with family and friends engaged in rich conversations that strengthen the ties that bind us.

L’Shalom,